NAME _________________________________
Is the greenhouse effect good or bad?
1. The diagram below represents energy being absorbed and
reradiated by the Earth.
5. Equal areas of which surface would most likely absorb the
most insolation?
1)
2)
3)
4)
smooth, black surface
smooth, white surface
rough, black surface
rough, white surface
6. Which diagram best shows how air inside a greenhouse
warms as a result of energy from the Sun?
1)
2)
3)
4)
Which type of energy is represented by the radiation at B?
1) ultraviolet rays
3) insolation
2) infrared energy
4) visible light
2. A gradual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide would
warm Earth’s atmosphere because carbon dioxide is a
1)
2)
3)
4)
good reflector of ultraviolet radiation
poor reflector of ultraviolet radiation
good absorber of infrared radiation
poor absorber of infrared radiation
3. Ice samples from continental glaciers provide evidence
that today's atmosphere contains more carbon dioxide
than ancient atmospheres did. This increase concerns
scientists because increased carbon dioxide may
1)
2)
3)
4)
cause plants to grow very rapidly
contribute to a rapid cooling of the oceans
contribute to a gradual warming of the atmosphere
cause a loss in the amount of radiant energy from the
Sun
4. Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s
atmosphere increases atmospheric temperature because
the carbon dioxide absorbs
1)
2)
3)
4)
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7. A person in Florida worked outdoors in sunlight for
several hours on a day in July. Which type of clothing
should the person have worn to absorb the least
electromagnetic radiation?
1)
2)
3)
4)
dark colored with a smooth surface
light colored with a rough surface
dark colored with a rough surface
light colored with a smooth surface
8. An increase in which gas would cause the most
greenhouse warming of Earth’s atmosphere?
1) hydrogen
3) oxygen
2) nitrogen
4) carbon dioxide
incoming solar gamma ray radiation
incoming solar visible light radiation
outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation
outgoing terrestrial ultraviolet radiation
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9. Base your answer to the following question on the graph below which shows variations in Earth's monthly
temperatures from normal Earth temperatures between January 1990 and January 1995.
The addition of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane gas to the atmosphere changes Earth's climate. This change
occurs primarily because these gases cause
1)
2)
3)
4)
warmer temperatures by absorbing infrared radiation
cooler temperatures by absorbing infrared radiation
cooler temperatures by absorbing ultraviolet radiation
warmer temperatures by absorbing ultraviolet radiation
10. Deforestation increases the greenhouse effect on Earth
because deforestation causes the atmosphere to contain
13. Why are some scientists concerned about an increase in
the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
1) An increase would change the decay rate of C14.
2) An increase would cause more ultraviolet energy to
strike the Earth's outer atmosphere.
3) An increase would cause an overall heating up of
the Earth's atmosphere.
4) An increase would cause energy to flow from
energy sinks to energy sources.
1) less oxygen, which absorbs short-wave radiation
2) less carbon dioxide, which absorbs short-wave
radiation
3) more carbon dioxide, which absorbs infrared
radiation
4) more oxygen, which absorbs infrared radiation
11. Which of these characteristics identify an Earth surface
that is likely to be the best absorber of insolation?
1)
2)
3)
4)
dark colored and smooth
dark colored and rough
light colored and rough
light colored and smooth
12. Which component of Earth’s atmosphere is classified as
a greenhouse gas?
1) helium
3) hydrogen
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2) carbon dioxide
4) oxygen
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14. The diagram below shows a greenhouse.
What is the primary function of the clear glass of the
greenhouse?
1) The glass allows short wavelengths of radiation to enter,
but reduces the amount of longwavelength radiation that
escapes.
2) The glass allows all wavelengths of radiation to enter and
all wavelengths of radiation to escape.
3) The glass reduces the amount of insolation entering the
greenhouse.
4) The glass allows long wavelengths of radiation to enter, but
reduces the amount of shortwavelength radiation that
escapes.
15. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram and table below. The diagram shows a cross section of a
solar-energy collecting system constructed as a portion of a wall of a house. It consists of an energy-absorbing
surface, a clear glass covering, and air ducts through the wall into the house. The table gives the house temperatures
during a spring day. No other heat source is available for the house.
What is the purpose of the clear glass covering of this solar collector?
1)
2)
3)
4)
The glass allows short-wave radiation to enter and traps long-wave reradiation.
The glass radiates ultraviolet energy.
The glass allows long-wave radiation to enter and traps short-wave reradiation.
The glass radiates infrared energy.
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16. A square meter of surface of which of these natural areas
would most likely absorb the most insolation during a
clear day?
1)
2)
3)
4)
a beach with white sand
a fast-moving river
a dark-green forest
a snow-covered field
17. Which graph best shows the relationship between the
concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere
and the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the
atmosphere.
1)
2)
3)
4)
21. Why are carbon dioxide and water vapor called the
greenhouse gases?
1) They are good reflectors of infrared radiation.
2) They are found in varying amounts in Earth's
atmosphere.
3) They are found in fixed amounts in Earth's bedrock.
4) They are good absorbers of infrared radiation.
22. Earth’s atmosphere is warmed when
1) x-ray radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by
nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
2) ultraviolet radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by
nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
3) gamma radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by
carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere
4) infrared radiation emitted by Earth is absorbed by
carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere
18. An increase in the amount of which atmospheric gas is
thought to cause global climate warming?
1) oxygen
3) nitrogen
2) hydrogen
4) carbon dioxide
19. Which two gases have been added to Earth’s atmosphere
in large amounts and are believed to have increased
global warming by absorbing infrared radiation?
1)
2)
3)
4)
methane and carbon dioxide
hydrogen and helium
chlorine and nitrogen
neon and argon
20. Changing the color of the roof of a house from light to
dark would probably increase the amount of solar energy
that is
1) insulated
3) created
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2) absorbed
4) reflected
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23. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which represents four stations, A, B, C, and D, in
a laboratory investigation in which equal volumes of sand at the same starting temperature were heated by identical
light sources. The light sources were the same distance from each station, but at different angles to the surfaces.
Two thermometers were used at each station, one just above the surface and the other just below the surface. The
lights were turned on for 30 minutes and then removed for the next 30 minutes. Temperatures were recorded each
minute for the 60 minutes.
Which type of sand surface would most likely absorb the most radiation?
1) dark-colored rough surface
3) dark-colored smooth surface
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2) light-colored rough surface
4) light-colored smooth surface
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